The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-12
AM HEREDITARY CURSE.
,-.,+istics Showing the Drink Habit is
0'' ''rr,rons,oitted From Father TO Son.

have been made ny TT. 4. -. CfotherS, the
''oo,ntendent of Walnut Lodge. Hartford,
C1,,n He quotes Dr. Russ as relating
.,,,+ the minors of Westphalia, who live
sn from their wives, are generally
:,toyirated when they come home on visits
III, result is that ii large proportion of the
I,n',ira,, horn OF these families are idiots
o,,I feplle-mindsd In the study of the
Loradity of inebriates many cases appear
,,bnre the parents were greatly disturbed
"! baal+h and their social relations prior to
.ho firth of the child, which grew up and
io.ame an inebriate without any special
exciting cause
~ lumber of cases which he cites, DR.
Gathers has directly traced inebriety
Eorz to the parents at time prior to the
chids birth In one instance the father
was sea captain, healthy, robust man,
vim never drank except on shore, and then
:, orpat moderation His ship went to
Cbina and the South sea, and was away
t,.elva or fourteen months at q time. He
r,srried in middle life, and on returning
fron n long voyage would go to his country
bone and be intoxicated with his wife for a
week or more on wines--then recover and
START away agar. His wife would drink
With him and be partially intoxicated.
Several children were born, all of whom
died in infancy except one boy, who grew
m and became aperiodic drinker, and came
under DR.. Crothel-s' care. He was a nervous,
melancholy young man, who could not
follow any steady work long, and every
two or three NOR tbs he would rush away to
ioin the most dissolute compan-
ions with whom he would re-
main, in a room, and for days
drink to condition of continuous stupor
Finally he would become exhausted and be
attacked with gastritis. Under the care of
sphy.ician he would quickly recover, and
then he would go back to the shipping house
where he was employed, and exhibit great
energy and industry for long time. His
mind was unstable. and he was incredulous
Of all things outside of his business. If he
became angry and excited he would stagger
and talk like a man drunken, his face would
grow red. the pupils of the eyes dilate, and
the lids swell, and he would be more or less
stupid for a long time. The approach of
the drink paroXysm was marked by great
business activity and anxiety to help some
one. Then suddenly he would find an evil
companion and go away and drink as before.
His early life, the doctor found, was I'M
eventful. He was a good student, of quiet,
retiring manners and held up as a model
for his companions. When about IA years
of age he suffered from a low, nervous
fever of several weeks duration. He lived
in his uncles family, and had the best
SOCIETY," dIl
when suddenly one day he disappeared. A
week later he was found i'll a low den, where
he had been intoxicated from the time he
came in. He gave no reason why he
did this and seemed Indifferent to all
counsel and advice. For year after, he
was temperate and exemplary in every
respect. Then he disappeared as before,
and drank wine in room to stupor for a
week or more, then came back. Then from
Hi,
noted by the great Secretiveness to go
where he could not - found, and also by
never drinking until'.o found such place
and an evil COM Lion to join him. He
was p years of aga when placed in DR..
Crothers' charge, who finally, so far as
appearances went. effected a cure. The
young man inherited a large property, mar
ried and went to the West Indies. I'm
this case" says DIR. Crothers "a most strik
ing similarity was apparent between the
drink parOxysms of his parents, which were
marked by a continuous use of wine, to
stupor, for days in room alone. In his
case beginning at youth, it seemed to burst
out as an inherited impulse, using the same
spirits and lasting about the same time.
Why he should suddenly and without
premonition go away and drink to excess
In peculiarly unusual way for boy, and
ever after keep it up at intervals under the
eCliCuiUSUtllC6S, CdIl Do duoWclou
from study of heredity."
In another case the physician cites the
father as temperate man. The mother
had drank beer at meals all her life. After
her wedding, however, both were intoxi-
Gated, and remained in that condition for
considerable period of that time. The first
child was little fretful creature, which
cried night and day for the first year. By
accident whisky was found to produce the
most perfect relief. From this time nothing
but some form of spirits would allay the
nervous irritation, and as he grew Older he
would cry for it and refused to
be satisfied with any other fluid.
At 10 years he drank beer regu-
arly every night, and at 10 he drank to
great excess. In appearance he was feeble
and tmperfectly developed. His mind was
uncertain and changeable. The taste and
effects OF spirits, gave him, he said, the
greatest pleasure When he could not get
spirits he was delirious, and after using one
or Two glasses he became stupid and aughed
at everything until he fell asleep. lie was
placed in the care of a physician, who tried
70 withdraw the use of spirits by reducing
rom day to day After the spirits were
Withdrawn he developed mania and de-
NSlonS of persecution during which he es-
capped from control and drank to stupor.
Inc mania disappeared. Again the effort
DICtth up LDe use OF Spirits was JIlel, UuU
the mania returned more violent than ever,
ana the spirits were resumed and continued
up 10 death, at 20 years of age. Three other
children were born to this couple, who were
temperate and of average strength and vlgor.
ane parents never used any spirits after the
Hrst year of marriage
A man was placed in his care who had
coupled very respectable position OF
iIuSt, and who, with an insane indifference,
nau drank to great excess and forfeited all
nohor and respect He was educated, and
was man of talent and great energy. He
"as temperate up to 40 years of age, when
suddenly he drank to intoxication, and he
was seen on the streets shouting in a deirl-
gus way In two or three days he became
cooperate, and seemed to have no regrets or
sorrow for the past. He manifested no
Interest III the advice and counsel of his
mIeiils and made no remarks of explanation,
oI gave any reason for his conduct.
several months later he drank as before,
anu returned to his work with the same
oool indifference as to his conduct and its
Sohst quences. He was forced to resign his
poslCioh as officer Of a bank, and gradually
en- uown lower, until brought to DR..
;Siovhels. he drank periodically, the free
m,CelTaI being from three to eighteen
t.ihontns, the drink paroxysm lasting from
' sllee to six days. During this paroxysm he
s "e ihaMacal and reeled up and down the
ywneeI or was seen in an open carriage, al
WY" going where he was most prominent,
%lu making public speeches He seemed
P a,oo,', with delusions OF power ana